Five KM Charity Walk for Breast Cancer Awareness

Denpasar (Antara Bali) - Bali International Women’s Association (BIWA) together with Bali Tourism Development Centre (BTDC) and Bali’s Hotel Marketing & Public Relations Associations (HHPB) are delighted to present the 2nd Bali Pink Ribbon Walk for Breast Cancer Awareness in Bali.

The five kilometre walk will be started and finished at Nusa Peninsula Island at Nusa Dua of Bali Tourism Development Corporation Complex and will be participated by almost 1,000 participants from Bali, Jakarta and other cities in Indonesia as well as overseas.

The event will be held on Saturday, 15 May 2010, and it will start and finish at Nusa Peninsula Island located at BTDC Complex, Nusa Dua, Bali. Registration opens at 14.00hrs andthe walk starts at 16.00hrs

Beside the walk, the committees of the charity event are organizing a mini bazaar, silent auction, lucky draw, music and entertainment to make the event lively.

Cost of Rp. 250,000 (US$ 25) per participant (Adults) and Rp. 100,000 (US$ 10) per Child (aged 5 – 12 years of old) which includes ticket, snacks and Bali Pink Ribbon Walk t-shirt and all proceeds raised will be used by the foundation to support breast cancer awareness activity and breast cancer treatment in Bali.

Matters like these increase the numbers and seriousness of breast cancer victims in Bali 70 percent of breast cancer patients visit doctors when they are already in an advanced stage of the disease. Patients harbour a fear of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. Many still believe in traditional medicines and believe that breast cancer cannot be cured.

There is a lack of information about breast cancer and funding to treat it. Many women are unaware of the need for regular breast examination. Many are unaware of the disease they are suffering.

This charity walk has been initiated to raise funds and awareness to support the treatment of breast cancer sufferers in Bali.

Cancer has been an increasing problem for Bali Health System and Medical Professionals for several reasons. Firstly, cancer incidence is increasing; secondly, there is no population based cancer registry available in Bali.

Thirdly there is no mass screening program; fourthly, the prevalence is especially for breast and colo-rectal cancer shifting to the younger population group; and five, there is no comprehensive cancer centre available in Bali.

Seventy three percent of our breast cancer patients in Bali were between 30-50 years of age, as was also the population of colon cancer.

Seventy to eighty percent of breast cancer patients came to the hospital at stage 3 and 4 of the disease with a resulting poor recovery prognosis.

Due to sky rocketing costs, most of the patients are not able to afford the treatment.

Public education and promotion of health regarding cancer are important to downstage the cancers. Cancer diagnosis and treatment still require a great effort and consume a lot of resources and funds.(*)